Method of filling containers and apparatus therefor



Jan, 3, 1950 JOHNSON 2,493,583

METHOD OF FILLING CONTAINERS 1 AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed April 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l H HHIHIII.

IN VEN TOR. fi ezzry fljbzzsoa Jan. 3, 1950 l JOHNSON 2,493,583

METHOD OF FILLING CONTAINERS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed April 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHNSON 2,493,583 ILLING CONTAINERS RATUS THEREFOR Jan. 3, 1950 H. A.

METHOD OF F AND APPA 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 27, 1946 INVENTOR.

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Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF FILLING CONTAINERS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a method of filling collapsible paperboard or cardboard containers and to an apparatus for use in the practice of said method. 7

More particularly, this invention relates to a method of filling collapsible paperboard or cardboard containers of the character illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 622,444, filed October 15, 1945, now Patent No. 2,455,124, issued November 30, 1948, on a Collapsible container.

In my aforesaid copending application I have disclosed a collapsible paperboard container which is particularly adapted for use in holding materials which are poured into an erected collapsible paperboard container in fluid or semifluid condition and allowed to cool and solidify. Thus, in my aforesaid application I have disclosed a container which is particularly adapted for holding asphalt which may be poured into the container in hot condition and allowed to solidify and the container then closed and made ready for shipment. However, such collapsible containers are not limited to use with hot materials, such as asphalt, but may be used with other materials such, for example, as ice cream which may be poured thereinto in semi-fluid condition and solidified by freezing.

One of the problems involved in filling collapsible paperboard or cardboard containers with materials poured therein in semi-fluid or fluid condition and allowed to solidify as by cooling from a hot condition, or by freezing, is in preventing the side walls of the collapsible paperboard containers from collapsing or bulging and disrupting the containers as the contents of the containers solidify as aforesaid.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of filling collapsible paperboard or cardboard containers such, for example, as that which forms the subject matter of my above identified copending application as well as other collapsible paperboard or cardboard containers which may be used for the packaging of materials poured thereinto in fluid or semi-fluid condition and allowed to solidify as by cooling or freezing.

An additional object of the invention is to pro- 2 or by being frozen from a fluid or semi-fluid condition.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel container holding apparatus which may be used in the practice of the new method of filling collapsible paperboard containers.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating a container holding apparatus which may be used in the practice of the present invention, the container holding apparatus being shown empty and prior to the insertion of the collapsible paperboard or like containers therein;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container holding apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and showing the collapsible paperboard or cardboard containers arranged therein in. position to be filled and showing the spacers or separators arranged between the adjacent side walls of the containers;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational View of the container holding apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the con-'- tainer holding apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, parts thereof being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the container-holding apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing the containers in filled condition;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the new container-holding apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and

showing the collapsible containers arranged Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the col-.

lapsible paperboard containers which. may be used in the practice of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a combination reenforcing and spacing member which may be employed in the practice of the present invention for spacing and reenforcing the end walls of the collapsible paperboard containers which are arranged at the corners of the containerholding apparatus from the end walls thereof;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the combination reenforcing and spacing members which may. b'e employ'ed'r in the practice ofth'e present invention for spacing adjacent collapsible paperboard containers and for reenforcing the side walls thereof after the containers have been filled and the contents tliereof'allbwed =to solidify; and

rows of collapsible paperboard containers, shown in Fig. 2, arranged in position to be: filledgione outside row and one inside row of containers- Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating-two lapsibleipaperboard". or cardboard. containers" is 7 shown in" Figs: 1 to 5} inclusive; wherein' said apparatus is generally indicated at In andlineludes a rectangular shaped" open supporting Base'or' frame LILWhichincIiIdes a" pair of" side rails: 32 and a" pairiof end rails? 331'. The" con'- tamer-holding apparatus l a'1'so' includes a pair of'si'milar side wall units or gates 12 "which are adapted to. rest 011713118 siderails' 32' ofthebase' iranieill, and"aipairfof similar en'dwall units.

org ates': l3 which areada'ptedto"rest'on' the end" rails- 33' of the" base frame I I I shown in the. drawings, each' ofthe' side" wall units. or gates I2 includes a" pairof :uprightend posts: ['4 anda plurality of" horizontally" extending" vertically spaced" cross'rails" l which maybe fastenedat' their ends in any suitable mannerfasby'nailsor screws, to theupright. end posts" l4. As'shown int'tl'ie" drawings'; each of theside wall. units or gates I2.;a"lso: includesan intermediate? upright post IE to which the verticallyspacedhorizon"- ifally. extending: cross. rails l5: may be" intercom nected 'in"any-suitablemannerr Similarly,.each'of"the end'wa'll'units' or gates rallty of vertically spaced: horizontally emancime; cross irails I 8 which" are connected at their en'dsin" any 'suitable'mannento the verticalposts ITasbymeans of. nails; screws "or the like;

' As shown in Figs..1 and 2a LL-shaped tiemembe: l9 maybe loosely placed acrossthert'op rails ofthe. sidewall units: [2" withits endsi' 34 ex'-' tending partway downwardly over the. sides of. the top rails l5"so' as to hold theside wallunits: I 2 of. the. container holding apparatus" l'ii'itogether and in. ass'embleclv positioniduring and after the container filling. operation.

.Tlieponta'iner holding apparatus Illalsofin chides. a plurality of latching devicesyeach of which is generally indicated atizo, and" which" are. shown in detail in" Rigs; 7" and 8". Theselatching devicesill'are adapted" to. maintain the sidewall units l2. and the. end wall units. 13." in assembled relationship and each' of the said latching. devices- 2li' inc1udesa relatively sta tibnaryelatch bar fl" which. is attached; as by screws 41, to each of'the upright corner. posts. l1. oi-theLende-walLunitsJ3. (Figs. 7 and 8). Each-of the relatively. stationary. latch bars 2] has. a latchportioniz;oflreduced' size (Fig.7) andeach of the latching devices includes a movable latch member '23 one of which is pivotally mounted, as at 24, upon the upright corner post I4 of each of the side wall units l2. Each of the movable latch members 23 has a notched or indented portion 35 which is engageable with the reduced portion 22 of one of the latch bars 2|.

A. suitable and typical. collapsible. paperboard containerof the; type whiclizmay'be used in the practice of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 9 wherein it is generally indicated at 25. The collapsible paperboard container or carton iii-forms the subject matter of my above-identified' copending application, and includes side Walls-.261 andend walls 21, each of the end walls 21' having an attaching flap 38 which is attached: as'bystaples 39, to one of the side walls 26, 'Each of the collapsible paperboard cont'ainers includes a bottom wall 4!! (Fig. 2 and when erected has an open upper end which is-- adapted to' beclosed'by closure flaps 49 and 4'=i'-one" of which is' attached toeach of'the side walls 25 and end 'walls' 21,- respectively;

The new container holding apparatus ineludes-a plurality of combinationreenforcing and spacingmem-bers 42 (Fi'gsa. 2;. l0 and 11') which may .be' made of any suitable material such, for example... as :wood, pressed cardboard or. paper.- board'; light metal-or the=lilie. Each 01 these; combination" reenforcing and spacing members. 42 isgenerally. U-shaped in form and includes'an end wall or bight portion" 43 "and a pair. of side walls 44" which" may be attached" thereto in. any suitablemanner 'or formed integral therewith as desired.

Inthe practice of the present invention the containerih'olding apparatus H shown in'Figs: 1 1105, inclusive, and land 8; maybe assembledby arranging-thebaseboards- 32 and33fin a rec'- tangular'pattern, as'shown'; andthen'arranging' the side wall" units" or gates f2" and .the end :wall" unitsor-gates" [-3 in upright position" upon" the base" boards '3'2 'and 33'; respectively:

The side wall units orgates" I'Tand'theend wall units or'gates I'S' maythen-"be latched'lin' assembled" rel atiunship and" heliiiirrupright posi tion by pivoting-thelatch members 23-, which" are-pivotally mounted at 24 011 the cornerposts" to. engage; the notched portions": f thereof: with V the; reduced portions" 22: or the relatively stationary latch bars 21 which are: carriediby the;

corner postslT of theend alFuIIitsor'gatesJS; The" tie .barpr' member [9 may then" be placed over the" uppermost horizontally extending. rails: l5 of "the'side' gates I'2"'t'o complete .the assembly and thus securely hold" the" side wall [units or gates I'Z andfthe"endl'wall'unitsz or gates I 3in assembled relationship and" in? upri'ghtposition".

' sheet of pressed: cardboard. or other: suitablematerial, arrangedhetweem theend walls 210i each of-rtwo adjacent containerslfi;

As;may-also beeseen by reierenceeto Figs. 2 and.-

12.the.:containers.25 in the. several rowsthereof are soarranged that the sidewallslfi thereof. are. reenforced by the combination spacing. and..re-.

enforcing members 28 one of which abuts each of the side walls 26 in the inner rows of containers '25 substantially midway between the ends thereof so as to reenforce the side walls 26 of the containers 25 in the inner rows thereof during and after the container filling operation, the side walls 26 of the containers-'25. in the outermost rows thereof being reenforced by the horizontal rails l5 of the side Wall units or gates l2.

It will also be noted, in this connection, that the end walls 21 of the containers 25 which are spaced or'separated by the combination reenforcing and spacing members 28 are also reenforced by these members 28 during and after the container filling operation, the end Walls 21 of one of the end containers 25 in each of the outer rows and the end wall 21 of one of the end containers 25 in each of the intermediate rows being reenforced by the horizontal rails l8 of the end wall units or gates 13 (Fig. 2).

As shown in Figs. 2 and 12 one of the combination reenforcing and spacing members 42 is arranged at one end of each of the outside rows of containers 25 and at one end of each of the inside rows of containers 25, the use of one of these combination reenforcing and spacing members being rendered necessary by the arrangement of the containers 25 in the several rows thereof in such a manner that one of the combination reenforcing and spacing members 28 reenforces the side wall 26 of each of the containers 25.

When in position of use" the side walls 44 of each of the combination reenforcing and spacing members 42 engage the horizontal rails I8 of one of the end wall units or gates l3 and the end wall or bight portion 43 of each of the members 42 engages and reenforces the end Wall 21 of the adjacent container 25 (Fig. 2)

After the collapsible containers 25 and the combination spacing and reenforcing members 28 and 42 have thus been arranged in erected condition and in proper position in the con-tainer holding apparatus H], as shown in Fig. 2, the liquid or semi-liquid material with which the containers 25 are to be filled may be poured thereinto from any suitable source such, for example, as a delivery hose, the outlet end portion or nozzle of which the delivery hose may be successively directed above each of the containers 25 through the open top of the apparatus l0. Thus, for example, a delivery hose adapted to carry hot asphalt from a suitable source, or a delivery apparatus adapted to carry ice cream from a suitable source thereof, may be moved successively from one container 25 to another in order to fill the same. The closure flaps 40 and 4| of the containers 25 may then be moved into closed position and the contents of the containers 25 allowed to solidify therein as by cooling to atmospheric temperature or by freezing. In the latter instance the apparatus may be arranged or moved moved into a freezing or refrigerator room for this purpose.

After the contents of the thus filled containers 25 have solidified the container holding apparatus [0 may be taken apart to facilitate removal of the filled containers 25. This may be accomplished readily by removing the tie rod l9 and pivoting the latch members 23, at 24, into open position whereupon the side wall units or gates l2 and the end wall units or gates [3 may be readily removed from the supporting base ll of the container-holding apparatus H1.

The filled containers 25 with the solidified contents thereof may then be readily transported,

'whereupon the process may be repeated by reas sembling the container-holding apparatus and refilling the same with a new series of the collapsible paperboard or like containers 25, arranged in rows with the combination reenforc- .ing and spacing members 28 and 42 in proper position, as in Fig. 2 and then repeating the filling fand solidifying operations.

A slightly modified form of the container-holding apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein it is generally indicated at 29. This form of the container-holding apparatus l0 substantially similar ;to that which is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, :and 7 and 8, and those parts thereof which are similar to corresponding parts embodied in the form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and '7 and 8 being given the same reference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishing reference character a. However, in the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. -6 the collapsible containers 25a are mounted upon supporting platforms 30 and 46 which are removably arranged within the rectangular supporting base Ha upon upright cross bars 3|. The platforms 30 and 46 thus support the collapsible containers 25a above the supporting base Ila so as to permit the step of a portable loading truck to be run under each of the supporting platforms 30 and 46 and thereby lift the selected platforms .30 or 46 and a group of the filled containers 25a for transportation as a unit after the containers 25a have been filled and the container-holding apparatus Illa disassembled. This facilitates transporting the filled containers'to a refrigerator room or to a shipping platform, or other place. It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a novel method of filling collapsible paperboard or like containers, and a novel but relatively simple container-holding apparatus for use in the practice of the new method and that the invention thus accomplishes its intended objects, and. has the desirable advantages and characteristics, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A method of filling collapsible paperboard containers adapted to be filled with fluid or semifluid material to be solidified and each of which said containers include side walls and end walls, a bottom wall, and top closure flaps, saidmethod comprising arranging said containers in erected condition in parallel rows upon a supporting surface with the end walls of adjacent containers in the same row in parallel but spaced relationship and with the side walls of the containers in adjacent rows in contacting relationship so as to reenforce each other and with the top closure flaps of the said containers in open condition, inserting a combination reenforcing and spacing member between the thus spaced parallel end walls of each two adjacent containers in each of the said rows of the said containers and with at least one end portion of each of the said combination reenforcing and spacing members engaging the side wall of one of the containers in the next adjacent row of said containers and approximately midway between the ends of the said side wall, filling the said containers with fluid or semi-fluid material to be solidified therein, and then efiecting the solidification of the fluid or semi-fluid contents of the said conaaoewse r 7 tai-nerswhile-thus arranged with, the said co'ntainers the position stated.

2. A method of filling collapsible paperboard containers adapted to be filled with fluid or semifluid material tobe solidified and each'of which said containers include side walls and end walls,

a bottom wall, and-top closure flaps, said method comprising arranging saidlcontainers in erected condition in parallel rows upon a supporting surface. with the end walls of adjacent containers in the same row in parallel but spaced relationship and with'the side walls of the containers in adjacent rows in contacting relationship so as to reenforce each other andwith the top closure flaps-of the said containers in open condition, in-

7 containers, and then effecting the solidification of the fluid or semi-fluid contents of the said containers while thusarranged with the said containers in the position stated. 7 v

3. A collapsible container holding apparatus- 7 for use-in holding collapsible paperboard or like containers whilesuch containers are filled with fluid or semi-fluid material subsequently solidified therein, said container holding apparatus comprising a substantially rectangular frame in.- cluding a pair of parallel upright side wall units and spanoftuprightiendwall units arranged in parallel irelationshlpwand'in contacting relatlonship'w-ith the said sidewallunits at the ends thereof, and a manuallyoperable unit arranged at each corner oti'thesaid container holding apparatus for detachably latching one of the said sidewall units and one ofthe said end wall units together in upright and assembled relationshi each of the 's'aid side wallunits andeach of the said end wall'imits includingan upright corner post at eachendzthereofrand aplu'rality of vertically spaced horizontally extending rails attached at their endsto' the said upright corner posts, each of thesald manually operable latching units including a relatively stationary latch member attached to -and'carried by one of the said side wall units; and each of the said'manually operableylatch-ingfunits including-a manually operable -latch member movably mounted on and carried by another or the said side wall units and adapted for latching: engagement with the corresponding one of said relatively stationary latch members.

HENRY A. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The followlngreferences are oi record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 225,940 'McGrodden;. Mar. 30, I880 e72,6:1'5 "Cooper Apr. 12, 1892 564,713 Phelps; i Ju1y 28., 1896 1,028,658 7 Balhorn 0.; June 4, 1912 2,206,157 Brown -July 2, 1940 2,378,920 Gill-loan; L June 26, 1945 

